The latest Bawku Conflict has displaced 101 Mamprusis residents in Pusiga forcing them to seek refuge at Goulongonsi in Togo, a village of about six kilometres from Pusiga when they had been chased.
In all four stores with their contents worth several millions of Ghana Cedis, two motorbikes, five bicycles other personal effects and unspecified number of houses all burnt into ashes.
The victims comprised 38 men, 28 women and 35 children are currently being housed by a 65 years old Good Samaritan, Mr. Nichema Nabila, a retired farmer.
This came to light when a team of information services Department (I. S. D.) went to assess their conditions yesterday at their new settlements.
Narrating their ordeal, Abdulai Faruk a teacher and stationery dealer said his store with goods valued at GH¢ 1500 were completely burnt and a Uniliver Key Distributor’s store also suffered the same fate.
Giving the circumstances surrounding their misfortune, Mr. Seidu Musah, an opinion leader of the refugees said that on the may 3rd between the hours of 6 and 7 pm, there was sporadic gunshot all over Pusiga township.
He explained further that not quite afterwards he saw his younger brother’s house on fire. While rushing to the scene, he heard a voice instructing someone to pour petrol on his house but his daughter was shouting “don’t burn it, it is my father’s house”. Yet, the perpetrators went ahead and burn the house without retrieving anything from it that included their valid documents such as National Health Insurance Card, Voter ID’s, birth certificates and their wards’ school materials all perished in the fire.
Mr. Seidu said, thereafter, they were being chased out of town and for the fear of their dear lives they took off without anything.
They appealed to the government to intervene and facilate their repatriation home safely with assurance that their lives would be secured henceforth. They also asked for support from all concerned Ghanaians and N. G. O’s for water, food and mat to sleep on.
In an interview with Pusiga Naba, Tambisballem Ayuma at his palace, he confirmed the story but explained that Mamprusis in Pusiga are in two groups, the Akparibo Gate and Musah Gate. However, the Akparibo have returned to Pusiga but the Musah could not do so because the whole town was against them as a result of their troublesome nature.
Citing an example, Naba, Tambisballem said one of them Faruk called him (the Chief) on phone and told him that they would go to Bawku and settle but would never forgive him.
Earlier on, the Bawku Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Abdulai Abanga paid a visit to the place and donated 14 mini bags of rice and half bag of maize plus GH¢ 100 cash.
The displaced included a teacher, a postal agent, a senior revenue superintendent of Bawku Municipal Assembly, a community police, stenographer at Gbewa Training College, local chairman of G.P.R.T.U and the rest self employed.
JAMES DORGBETOR
MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER
Monday, May 19, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment